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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09 SUBMIT APPLICATION FOR FTA EXPANDED 5310 PROJECTS - ENHANCED MOBILITY OF SENIOR CITIZENS1�Y O AGENDA REPORT VSn�1 MEETING DATE: JANUARY 19, 2016 TO: JEFFREY C. PARKER, CITY MANAGER Agenda Item 9 Reviewed City Manager Finance Director FROM: DAVID A. WILSON, DIRECTOR, PARKS AND RECREATION SERVICES SUBJECT: AUTHORIZATION TO SUBMIT APPLICATION FOR FTA EXPANDED 5310 PROJECTS GRANT FOR ENHANCED MOBILITY OF SENIOR CITIZENS SUMMARY The Parks and Recreation Services Department is seeking authorization to submit an application to the California Department of Transportation for Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Section 5310 Elderly and Disabled Specialized Transportation Program funds. RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that City Council: 1. Adopt Resolution 16-01 which authorizes staff to apply for Section 5310 grant funds to be used for operating assistance for existing transit service and expansion of transit services and finds that there is no non-profit agency readily available to provide paratransit services for the elderly and disabled in the Tustin area. 2. Adopt Resolution 16-02 which authorizes the Director of Parks and Recreation Services to execute all documents related to the Section 5310 grant application. FISCAL IMPACT If the application is approved for funding, the Section 5310 Program Grant will provide operating assistance in the amount of $124,000 which will be used to cover the cost of one (1) additional full-time Transportation Coordinator for two years as part of our Transportation Coordination Expansion Project to increase the number of trips and hours of service for transporting senior citizens. CORRELATION TO THE STRATEGIC PLAN This grant opportunity advances Goal A of the City of Tustin Strategic Plan regarding Economic and Neighborhood Development in that it provides resources for future senior services to meet changing demographics and trends. BACKGROUND For the past fifteen years, the Tustin Area Senior Center has been offering a no fee transportation program to serve the needs of its senior residents. The program provides door-to-door transportation for medical appointments, grocery shopping, and participation in Senior Center activities using a sixteen (16) passenger vehicle with wheelchair accessibility which was purchased in 2008 by the Tustin Area Senior Center Fund. In addition, the program has a second sixteen (16) passenger vehicle used as a back-up which was received from the Orange County Transportation Authority's Surplus Vehicle Donation Program. In 2014, The State of California's Department of Transportation Division of Mass Transportation (Caltrans) awarded the City of Tustin a FTA Section 5310 grant in the form of two new sixteen (16) passenger vehicles (approximate value of $146,000). The City is currently entering into an agreement to receive these vehicles which are on schedule to be delivered in November 2016. Once received, these new buses will be used to replace the two that are in service currently, one of which will be retained as a back-up bus and the other will be surplused. If awarded this 5310 Grant for operating assistance, the funds will be allocated towards an additional full time Transportation Coordinator. One bus and driver will be allocated to medical trips and another bus and driver will be specific to the Elderly Nutrition Program, senior center trips, and grocery shopping. This will enable us to expand the number of passenger trips the TASC Transportation Program is able to complete. This grant will help ensure that the needs of the growing senior citizen population will be met well into the future. Federal regulation provides that a State may allocate apportioned funds to a governmental agency provided that there are no non-profit organizations readily available in the area to provide the service. Caltrans requires governmental agencies to hold a public hearing. The public hearing was advertised in the newspaper more than 30 days prior and notices were sent to known local non-profit organizations via certified mail. Respectfully submitted, Director, Parks and Recreation Services Attachment: City Council Resolutions No. 16-01 and 16-02. RESOLUTION NO. 16-01 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUSTIN, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING STAFF TO APPLY TO THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR A FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION SECTION 5310 PROGRAM GRANT WHEREAS, the Federal Transit Administration, through its Section 5310 Program provides grants to nonprofit organizations and qualifying public agencies for Operating Assistance to meet the transportation needs of the elderly and physically challenged; and WHEREAS, the City of Tustin ("City") through its Parks and Recreation Services Department maintains an on-going transportation program for the elderly to and from their residences to such places as doctors' offices, grocery stores, and the Tustin Area Senior Center ("Senior Transportation Program"); and WHEREAS, there is a need for the City to obtain additional funding to aid existing transportation services and expand transportation services in order to continue with this very important program; and WHEREAS, the State Department of Transportation, with local assistance provided by the Orange County Transportation Authority, administers the above- described federal transportation grant program; and WHEREAS, a public hearing was held by the City Council on January 19, 2016, at which time all interested parties were invited to speak on the subject; and WHEREAS, prior notice of the date, time and specific purpose of said public hearing was published by the City in a newspaper of general circulation at least 30 days prior to the date of public hearing; and WHEREAS, prior' to the date of the public hearing, City staff sent a contact letter to private, nonprofit transportation providers informing them of the date, time and place of the public hearing, as well as the right to be heard; and WHEREAS, no private, nonprofit transportation agencies are readily available to provide the services provided by the City through its Senior Transportation Program; and WHEREAS, the City desires to apply to the California Department of Transportation for a Section 5310 Program Grant in order to secure funding for Operating Assistance. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Tustin does hereby resolve as follows: The Director of Parks and Recreation Services or his designee is hereby authorized to submit a grant application to the California Department of Transportation, under the Federal Transit Administration Section 5310 Program, to obtain funds for Operating Assistance for the existing and expansion of services for the City's Senior Transportation Program. PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Tustin at a regular meeting held on the 19th day of January 2016. JOHN NIESLEN, Mayor ATTEST Erica N. Rabe, City Clerk STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF ORANGE ) SS CITY OF TUSTIN ) CERTIFICATION FOR RESOLUTION NO. 16-01 Erica N. Rabe, City Clerk and ex -officio Clerk of the City Council of the City of Tustin, California, does hereby certify that the whole number of the members of the City Council is five; that the above and foregoing Resolution No. 16-01 was duly and regularly passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council held on the 19th day of January 2016 by the following vote: COUNCILMEMBER AYES: COUNCILMEMBER NOES: COUNCILMEMBER ABSTAINED: COUNCILMEMBER ABSENT: Erica N. Rabe, City Clerk RESOLUTION NO. 16-02 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUSTIN, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR GRANT FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR CAPITAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS PURSUANT TO SECTION 5310 OF THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ACT. WHEREAS, THE U.S. Department of Transportation is authorized to make grants to states through the Federal Transit Administration to support capital projects for non -urbanized public transportation systems under Section 5310 of the Federal Transit Act (FTA C9070.1 F); and The California Department of Transportation (Department) has been designated by the Governor to administer grant funds under Section 5310 for transportation projects for the elderly and disabled; and The City of Tustin desires to apply for the grant funds to permit operations of paratransit service in Tustin; and The City of Tustin has, to the maximum extent feasible, coordinated with other transportation providers and users in the region (including social service agencies). NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Tustin does hereby resolve as follows: 1. The Director of Parks and Recreation Services (hereinafter "Director") or her/his designee is hereby authorized to file and execute applications on behalf of the City of Tustin with the Department to aid in the financing of senior transportation pursuant to Section 5310 of the Federal Transit Act, as amended. 2. The Director is authorized to execute and file all certification of assurances, contracts, or agreements or any other document required by the Department. 3. The Director is authorized to provide additional information as the Department may require in connection with the City's application for Section 5310 project funds. 4. The Director is hereby authorized to submit and approve requests for reimbursement of funds from the Department for the Section 5310 project(s). PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Tustin at a regular meeting held on the 19h of January 2016. JOHN NIELSEN, Mayor ATTEST Erica N. Rabe, City Clerk STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF ORANGE ) SS CITY OF TUSTIN ) CERTIFICATION FOR RESOLUTION NO. 16-02 Erica N. Rabe, City Clerk and ex -officio Clerk of the City Council of the City of Tustin, California, does hereby certify that the whole number of the members of the City Council is five; that the above and foregoing Resolution No. 16-02 was duly and regularly passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council held on the 19th day of January 2016 by the following vote: COUNCILMEMBER AYES: COUNCILMEMBER NOES: COUNCILMEMBER ABSTAINED: COUNCILMEMBER ABSENT: Erica N. Rabe, City Clerk